Page 40 of Signs and Wonders

Evan met his gaze and put his whole heart into his eyes. “I promise.”

Lacey’s seemed busier than usual, and as Evan watched Cameron behind the bar, he realized that there should have been a second bartender given the size of the crowd.

Evan excused himself and headed over to talk to Cameron. “Did someone call off? You look swamped.”

Cameron wiped the back of his hand across his face. “Yeah, we’re supposed to have someone who can float between the bar and the kitchen depending on where he’s needed most, and I don’t know where he is, but he’s not here.”

“I’m no good in the kitchen, but I’ve logged a lot of hours behind a bar,” Evan said. “Happy to lend a hand if it would help.”

“You’re on,” Cameron told him. Evan grabbed an apron and tied it around his waist. After a quick recap of the oddities of this particular bar’s setup, Evan dove in and started mixing drinks.

He looked up and saw Seth watching him with a look that seemed proud and pensive all at once.

I’m going to need to drive the point home that I don’t want to be doing anything else for now or be anywhere else.Evan figured that Seth was concerned he had derailed Evan’s ambitions.

Before I met Seth, I was lonely, disillusioned, and had a target on my back, although I didn’t know it yet. Despite the danger, I met the love of my life, and I’m satisfied with our lives. There’s purpose galore, and I have my design work too. I’m happy right where I am—and I need to get that through Seth’s thick skull.

Although it had been a while since Evan last tended bar, he fell back into the groove almost immediately. Chatting with the customers gave him an opportunity to size up any potential threat, and he could keep an eye on the door and the people playing the machines without being obvious.

“You’re new,” one of the men at the bar said.

“Just helping out,” Evan replied. “Cameron’s the real star.”

“He’s a good kid,” the man said. He had a shock of white hair combed over a mostly bald head and a lined face that suggested a lifetime working outdoors. “Don’t know why he sticks around this town. Especially with the family curse and all.”

Evan stole a look toward Cameron, but he was busy at the other end of the bar. “Curse?” He was curious to see what the locals made of the deaths in Cameron’s family.

The man thumped his empty beer bottle down on the bar and nodded for Evan to bring him another. “Nice folks, it’s a shame how things happened.”

“I’m not from around here.” Evan hoped that would prompt an explanation. He knew Cameron’s side and had insight into the truth about the witch disciple’s part in the tragedies, but he wondered how it looked to outsiders.

“The family’s been here for quite a while, hundred years or so, I’d guess. But from what I hear, bad luck followed them. His dad died in a truck accident. Someone else drowned up at the lake on the mountain—never found the body, so I hear tell. And then more than one fellow just disappeared. Probably ran off with a pretty girl but didn’t leave a note or anything,” the barfly continued.

“Don’t get me wrong—he’s a mighty fine bartender, and I’d hate to lose him, but I gotta wonder if it might be good for him to get a fresh start somewhere else, know what I mean?”

Evan did, and while it wasn’t his place to say that Cameron had plans to move on, he could understand even more why he and Tyler needed to get out of Buckhannon.

“Sometimes you gotta leave home to get a fresh perspective.” Evan amiably agreed with the man, although he knew that for Cameron, the reasons went much deeper.

The next few hours passed in a blur as Evan moved with the ease of long practice, stepping around Cameron like they had choreographed the routine. Things finally slowed after supper, and Evan joined Cameron for a moment of peace in the kitchen.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver,” Cameron said, still a little flushed from the busy evening.

“It’s nice to know I haven’t lost my touch,” Evan replied. “You’re a real favorite with the regulars.”

Cameron chuckled. “The previous bartender was a grumpy cuss who had a salty opinion on everything, so I’ve heard. Jeff, the guy who fills in for me and works on my day off, is good at mixing drinks but doesn’t really get into the people side of things. It’s a tough balance, and if you don’t enjoy the social side, you can get worn down quick.”

Evan usually enjoyed the chitchat, but he remembered days when he would have rather been left alone and still needed to give the customers a good experience. That could be exhausting, although not nearly as much as chasing down a wendigo or restless spirits.I have a very strange standard for comparison.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Cameron glanced toward the bar to make sure no one was beckoning for service.

“Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“You and Seth aretogether, right?”

Evan nodded, surprised that Cameron even needed to ask. “Yeah. For a little over a year now. Given the circumstances, it’s been a bit of a trial by fire.”

Cameron looked nervous. “You and Seth are the only other couple like us I’ve ever met.”

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